Luminous skins: Costume as a Central Element of a Swarm-Based Scenography

Luminous skins are interactive, light-costume hybrids that reimagine the boundaries of the performers’ physical bodies, broadcast their feelings, and alter their environment. The costumes are the central element of a performance that requires no stage space, no fixed lighting, no wall outlets, and no lighting technicians. The performers manage to dance through the darkness with the light they wear. The costumes are equipped with sensors and actuators that communicate wirelessly in real time with other scenographic elements. Together, they form a swarm-based scenography that involves close coordination between the performers and responsive technology to create visually dynamic and immersive atmospheres.